Page 92 of His Boys to Protect

Skylar let out a shuddering breath. “Okay.” He closed the mailbox, then considered his keys. Skylar took the apartment and mailbox keys off the ring, walked over to the door to the manager's office, and stuffed both through the mail slot there.

They fell with aplinkon the other side, and Skylar felt a weight drop off his shoulders.Holy shit. He really was leaving for good.

When he turned back around, he found Ward watching him. The man didn't comment on his actions. Skylar should have given notice. Should have maybe left a note. Something. But Ward didn't say any of that. The man simply held out a hand and waited for Skylar to join him.

Skylar took his hand and followed him outside.

They got back into Ward's truck, Skylar buckled into the passenger seat with all of his worldly belongings clutched tightly in his arms.

Beside him, Ward started the truck, opened the navigation app on his phone, and began driving.

Skylar closed his eyes.Jeebus. He was actually leaving. Actually walking away from his life. Was it really over? Really and truly?

He had so many things to figure out. Where to go. What to do next. He'd need to find a job, and fast. Make some more money. Find a new doctor somewhere. Recover from surgery. Start over.

Skylar opened his eyes when he felt the truck accelerate. They were getting on the freeway. Leaving the city.

Except they were going in the wrong direction.

“Ward?”

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

“Where are we going?”

Ward frowned. “To see Charlie.”

Skylar's heart rate kicked back up. “Why?”

Ward's frown deepened. “For one thing, he's expecting me. I always go spend time with him after I've seen you. But for another…” Ward glanced at him, studying his face. “Geez, Sky. You were going to leave without saying anything to him?”

Skylar winced, shrinking into the seat.

“Sky?”

“I was gonna write him a letter,” Skylar blurted out, feeling his cheeks flush with shame. “The plan was always to walk away with a clean break. I figured I'd get on the freeway and start driving. Once I was a full day out of the city, I'd stop for the night and write him a letter, then mail it before I continued on. My phone, too. It's on the Pratts' family plan, so I was gonna mail that back at the same time. It wouldn't be right to keep it after I left.”

“Sky,” Ward gasped.

“I know,” Skylar replied, cringing. “I know. It's awful, and I hate myself for it. But Charlie deserves so much better than me.”

Ward's frown changed to a look of pity as he returned his focus to the road.

But the man didn't deviate from his route. Skylar watched as the miles rolled by, taking them closer and closer to Charlie's house.

“Ward–”

“I promised him, Sky. He's expecting me to be there. Besides, I want him to know he's more than welcome to come visit and stay with us, so he can see you, whenever he wants.”

Skylar blinked. “You're not serious.”

“Why not?”

“I don't think you realize how much that'll interrupt your life. Charlie has certain needs that most people can't understand, let alone deal with.” Skylar paused with a curse. Was he trying to push Ward and Charlie together or drive them apart? “I mean–”

“Sky,” Ward interrupted him, his voice gentle but firm. “I can handle it. Okay? Don't worry about me.”

“But–”

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